A stolen SUV with a five-year-old boy in it was successfully intercepted by police in northwest Houston last night after the child’s father used the Find My Phone feature on his iPad to track an iPhone in the car.

The father had left his son in the car while he ran into a store, when it was stolen.

“The father had an iPad that he’d taken in with him and he utilized that iPad with the iPhone that was in the car and was able to track it,” said Lt. Wayne Schultz with the Harris County Precinct 4 Constable’s Office. “And the information was provided from our deputies to our dispatch, that was able to be communicated through the Harris County Sheriff’s Office dispatch also and they were able to get information out to the troops in the field to where we could disseminate information in almost a real-time environment to put it out to guys who were looking for the vehicle with the child in it.”

Police stopped the SUV 15 minutes later and re-united the child, who was unharmed, with his father. The suspect was arrested.

While we might raise an eyebrow at leaving a 5yo child in a car on his own, credit has to be given for having the presence of mind in such circumstances to use Find My Phone in such stressful circumstances.

While I’m completely against over legislation, I wish they’d create a law that severely fines any parent that leaves there child in the car for even a minute. I have three children, and wouldn’t dare leave any of them (even my oldest who’s 7 yo) in a car alone for a second. If I’m going somewhere where I can’t see them then they’re coming with me. If they can’t come with me for whatever reason, then I’M NOT GOING.

I don’t understand how people can accept living in a country with no law and order. The US needs to lower crime rate, rather than becoming like Mexico.
In many countries, it is safe to leave your child in the car, or in the pram outside the store.